39 remain in Melbourne Cup contention
The field for next Tuesday's $10.2 million Melbourne Cup has been reduced to 39 contenders following Monday's third declarations.
Ciaron Maher and Joseph O'Brien dominate the order of entry, with Maher boasting eight horses inside the top 23 and O'Brien five inside the top 12.
Connections paid $5,000 on Monday to remain in contention, with a final acceptance payment of $55,000 due by 4:30pm Saturday.
McDonald confirmed for Trustyourinstinct
James McDonald has been booked to ride the Joseph O'Brien-trained Trustyourinstinct in next Tuesday's Melbourne Cup.
Latest spring carnival updates
Racing journalist Trent Masenhelder has provided several updates on the major races ahead. He's well worth following on X for his regular carnival news.
Cosmic Crusader: The Cox Plate winner could head to the Champions Stakes, which would be his eighth run this preparation.
True Rebel: Billy Egan returns aboard the Victoria Derby favourite. Egan will also partner Mbube in the Coolmore Stud Stakes.
Surfin' Bird: Blake Shinn replaces the suspended Jordan Childs in Saturday's Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes.
Joliestar: Likely to take on Everest winner Tempted in the Group 1 Champions Sprint.
Sheza Alibi: Peter Moody is very happy with the mare ahead of Saturday's $10 million Golden Eagle. She will have a short sprint on Tuesday morning.
Sequinned: The Godolphin filly could contest either the Coolmore Stud Stakes or the Group 3 Red Roses Stakes on Oaks Day.
Litzdeel and So You Are: Both will contest Wednesday's Bendigo Cup in a final attempt to secure Melbourne Cup starts.
Follow Trent Masenhelder on X.
Amused Group enters voluntary administration
Amused Group, which until recently operated 10 wagering brands including BetDeluxe, has entered voluntary administration.
According to Betsy, the development follows the recent sale of the group's wagering assets to a company headed by former Racing Queensland CEO Jason Scott.
Punters have been assured they will not be affected by the administration. Full story.
Melbourne Cup order and jockey bookings
The current leading Melbourne Cup contenders and jockey engagements, as reported by Trent Masenhelder, are listed below. The order remains subject to changes ahead of final acceptances.
| Horse | Jockey |
|---|---|
| Defiantly | Dylan Browne McMonagle |
| Juja Kibo | Sam Clipperton |
| Point Of Law | Ethan Brown |
| Mr Monaco | Jabez Johnstone (a) |
| Zakouma | William Pike |
| Shockletz | Harry Coffey |
| Sons And Lovers | Ryan Moore |
| Stinger Glass | Christophe Lemaire |
| Trustyourinstinct | James McDonald |
| Goodie Two Shoes | Wayne Lordan |
| Middle Earth | Mark Zahra |
| James J Braddock | Craig Williams |
| Vauban | TBC |
| Knight's Choice | Robbie Dolan |
| Strictly Business | TBC |
| Royal Supremacy | TBC |
| Enfjaar | Ray Dawson (to be confirmed) |
| Wine Dark Sea | TBC |
| Saint George | Blake Shinn |
| Asterix | TBC |
| Soul Of Spain | Tommy Berry |
| Onesmoothoperator | Declan Bates |
| Zahrann | Ben Melham |
| Hopewell Rock | Zac Lloyd |
Aeliana officially out of Melbourne Cup
Aeliana will not contest this year's Melbourne Cup after connections elected not to pay up at Monday's third declaration stage.
The Chris Waller-trained mare had remained in contention until the latest deadline but will now miss the November 3 feature.
Lazzura bypasses Empire Rose
Saturday's Group 2 The Invitation winner Lazzura will not back up in this weekend's Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes at Flemington.
Her next assignment is likely to be the Group 2 Hot Danish Stakes (1400m) at Rosehill on November 7.
Pride Of Jenni out of Empire Rose
Pride Of Jenni has been ruled out of Saturday's Group 1 Empire Rose Stakes as she continues to recover from the infection that forced her withdrawal from the King Charles III Stakes.
The nine-year-old had been favourite for the Flemington feature, a race she has won twice previously.
A clash with Autumn Glow in the Group 1 Champions Mile on November 7 remains a possibility, depending on her recovery.
Juja Kibo receives Melbourne Cup penalty
Juja Kibo has received a 1.5kg Melbourne Cup penalty following his victory in Saturday's Group 2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup (2500m) at Flemington.
The Ciaron Maher-trained stayer has strengthened his Melbourne Cup claims with the win, although the additional weight adds to his challenge on November 3.
Kings Valley backs up again at Bendigo
Kings Valley is set to contest Wednesday's Group 3 Bendigo Cup (2400m) as connections attempt to secure a Melbourne Cup start.
The Ciaron Maher-trained stayer has had a busy preparation, finishing fifth in the Caulfield Cup before running second in Saturday's Moonee Valley Gold Cup.
He currently sits 45th in the Melbourne Cup order of entry.
Williams booked for Pembrey in Coolmore
Craig Williams has secured the ride aboard Queensland filly Pembrey in Saturday's Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) at Flemington.
Trainer Tony Gollan has deliberately kept the talented sprinter fresh, with Pembrey not having raced since early September.
Gollan believes the filly could be underestimated heading into the $2 million feature.
Buckaroo heads west
Buckaroo will bypass the Champions Mile at Flemington, with connections instead targeting the Perth Summer Carnival.
The Group 1 Railway Stakes and Northerly Stakes are on his agenda.
Ka Ying Lightning makes it three straight
Ka Ying Lightning has maintained his unbeaten record with another victory at Sha Tin.
The David Hall-trained sprinter made it three wins from three starts, with Andrea Atzeni aboard.
Victoria Derby distance change under consideration
The Group 1 Victoria Derby could undergo a significant change, with its traditional 2500m distance potentially reduced to 2000m as early as 2027.
The proposal is being considered as part of efforts to protect the race's Group 1 status under international classification standards.
A change would represent a major shift for Australia's oldest classic. Full story.
Soulcombe chasing last-minute Melbourne Cup berth
2023 Melbourne Cup runner-up Soulcombe will contest Wednesday's $500,000 Group 3 Bendigo Cup (2400m) in a bid to secure a place in next Tuesday's Melbourne Cup.
The stayer sits 39th in the order of entry but has yet to satisfy the first ballot clause.
A top-three finish in the Bendigo Cup would satisfy that requirement and improve his prospects of making the final field.
Melham loses suspension appeal
Jamie Melham will miss Saturday's Victoria Derby Day meeting after failing in her bid to have a careless riding suspension reduced.
The star jockey was due to partner several leading chances at Flemington, including Satono Glow in the $2 million Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes.
Melham received the suspension following her winning ride aboard Marhoona in the Sydney Stakes at Randwick.
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